Top 10 Halloween events and activities

Halloween drive-in movies in Scotland, a zombie walk on Brighton beach, paranormal activity in a Cumbrian castle, and plenty of ghost trails and fancy dress for the kids … here are 10 fun and freakish days out for Halloween, starting this weekend

The Hop Farm, Kent

The Hop Farm's popular Freak Week returns, bigger and better than before. Aimed at older children (10+) the event will run from 6pm until late every night. Intrepid visitors can take a trip through the twisted corridors of Mr Porky's meat factory (and hopefully avoid ending up in a pie), join a seance in an abandoned big top tent and visit the flesh-eating inhabitants of the Torture Cellar. Alternatively, you can visit in the daytime for gentler activities such as pumpkin carving, apple bobbing and fancy dress. Not quite so thrilling, but at least it won't give your little ones nightmares. • 27-31 October, from 6pm-11pm; Freak Week tickets £12.50 when booked in advance, standard daytime admission – adults £14.90, children £12.80; 01622 872068, hopfarmfreakweek.co.uk

Drive-in movies, Strathclyde

Scare yourself silly at one of the Halloween Drive-in Movies being screened at Scottish theme park M&D's over Halloween weekend. Friday 13th (28 October, 8pm), The Last Exorcism (28 October, 10pm) and Nightmare on Elm Street (29 October, 10pm) are among the horror flicks being shown on the huge outdoor screen. Don't forget the popcorn … and be sure to lock your car doors. • 28-30 October, screenings between 6pm and midnight; from £24 per car when booked online or £27.50 on the day; scotlandsthemepark.com

Astley Hall, Lancashire

Giant puppets, theatre in the woods, mask making and a swing band called Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six are among the spooky fun and japes on offer at the Nutcrack Night in the picturesque grounds of Astley Hall. Organised by the people behind Staffordshire's green family festival Just So, the event is designed to be an antidote to the commercialisation of Halloween, with performances designed to "enchant" (although they're expecting up to 2,500 people). If you want to properly throw yourself into the spirit of things, dress up and leave your inhibitions behind. • 29 October, 4-11pm; adults £15, children £7, under-3s free; nutcracknight.org.uk

Brighton, East Sussex

More than 1,000 zombies, ghouls and demons are expected to show up for this year's Beach of the Dead event, Brighton's annual zombie walk. The parade starts in Victoria Gardens at 3pm, passing the Royal Pavilion and along the beach, eventually finishing at Concorde2 for the (adults-only) Halloween after-party with live music and burlesque performances. The walk takes approximately two hours, depending on your level of undeadness. Dress to distress.• 22 October, from 3pm; the walk is free, tickets for the after-party at Concorde2 are £3-£4 on the door; beachofthedead.com

Scottish Crannog Centre, Perthshire

Celebrate the ancient pagan festival of Samhain, a precursor to Halloween, in true Celtic style at the Scottish Crannog Centre on the shores of Loch Tay. Fireside storytelling, a torch-lit procession through the woods, fire sculptures and ducking for apples will be among the highlights of the event. • 30 and 31 October, from 6pm-8pm; adults £7.50, children £4; crannog.co.uk, booking essential

Belsay Hall, Northumberland

Robert Lloyd Parry as M R James. Photograph: Shelagh Bidwell

The neoclassical Belsay Hall provides the atmospheric setting for a series of three one-man shows bringing to life the classic ghost stories of M R James. Tales of Fear is presented by Nunkie Theatre Company and each performance will feature two different spine-chilling stories from the master of the genre. Guaranteed to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Wrap up warm as the Hall is unheated. • 29-31 October, performances at 7pm and 9.30pm; suitable for 13+, adults £10, children £8 when booked in advance; 0870 333 1183, english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/tales-of-fear

Warwick Castle, Warwickshire

A seance among the ramparts of Warwick Castle is one of the hair-raising highlights of a new evening event which has been introduced for the week leading up to Halloween. Aimed at adults and older teens, the Haunted Castle After Dark tickets include entry to the castle dungeon, great hall and chapel, a staged "seance" with theatrical effects and costumed actors, and story-telling in the gaol. • Selected dates between 22 and 31 October, from 5.30pm-9pm; £15, may be unsuitable for under-16s, under-18s must be accompanied by an adult; 0871 222 6688, warwick-castle.com

London Wetland Centre

Photographs: Richard Bullock and R J Brookes/Bat Conservation Trust

Learn all about bats and spiders at Britain's best urban wildlife site. The London Wetland Centre will be holding special talks and walks to discover loads about these unloved creatures in the lead-up to Halloween. The Bat Conservation Trust will be at the centre for the weekend with bat masks and hats, facepainting and bat games, while experts from the British Tarantula Society will be displaying exotic spiders. Throughout half-term week there will be regular Halloween activities on offer, including puppet shows, storytelling and nature crafts. • 22 and 23 October; adults from £10.55, children £5.85, family tickets from £29.40; wwt.org.uk

Erddig, Wrexham, Clwyd

This country house will be hosting a day of spooky activities for children of all ages. Creepy craft workshops, scary stories, a ghostly trail through the landscaped gardens and a fancy dress parade will keep mini-ghouls entertained. There's also the chance to visit the resident owls, spiders and scorpions and to have a go at making a broomstick or willow wand.• 30 October, 11am-4pm; adults £11, children £5.50, family pass £27.50, free entry for children in Halloween costume; nationaltrust.org.uk

Muncaster Castle, Cumbria

Muncaster Castle's Tapestry room, where most of the ghostly activity has been reported over the years. Photograph: Mark Carr IE Photography

Muncaster, supposedly one of Britain's most haunted castles, is offering visitors the chance to take part in an overnight scientific investigation into paranormal activity. The Ghost Vigil will be led by Dr Jason Braithwaite, a brain scientist from Birmingham University who has been investigating ghostly "happenings" at the castle since 1992. There will be a talk on the latest scientific findings in the field and participants will be trained in the use of specialist "ghost hunting" equipment and investigative methods, before putting their new skills to the test in various sites in the castle. • 29 October; £99 per person, including training, afternoon tea, evening meal and full English breakfast next morning (participants must bring their own sleeping bags); 01229 717614, muncaster.co.uk